August 28, 2007 - The Hillsdale College volleyball team rolled off the assembly line and was shiny and new for the home fans Tuesday night, as the 2007 Chargers swept Spring Arbor University 3-0 in a steamy Jesse Philips Arena. The non-league match was Hillsdale's home opener for this season.

Just two days removed from returning from its season-opening tournament in Florida, the Chargers ran smooth with no shifting problems in dispatching the Cougars while allowing 17 points or less in all three games.

The Chargers excelled in all areas of the game, holding Spring Arbor to a team hitting percentage of -.120 while putting together a team percentage of .270 of its own.

Despite losing a talented senior class from its 2006 team that went 29-2, this 2007 team showed nearly 300 home fans that it's certainly no lemon. Twelve of the team's 14 players recorded a kill in the match, led by 14 from sophomore Kittrick Smith. Senior Melissa Bartlett tacked on 12 kills, while freshman Amanda Bigney had six kills in the balanced offensive attack. Junior Elisse Shank played well in the third game, getting four kills in four attempts for a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. Senior right-side hitter Devon Blain (pictured) showed plenty of aggressiveness on the court with a pair of strong kills during the match.

Hillsdale also had no problem driving defensively during the match, forcing Spring Arbor into 32 attack errors while picking up 52 digs as a team. Freshman Sydney Dow led the team with 14 in home home collegiate debut, while Megan Howard added 11 digs. Junior setter Stephanie Booms played the part of old reliable, recording 40 assists, with five digs, three kills and two service aces.

The Charger team had 16 total blocks and never trailed at any point during the match.

Hillsdale's next road test will come in Findlay, Ohio this weekend, where the team will play in its second early-season tournament.

Click on the link below to view the box score from Tuesday night's win over Spring Arbor.

Hillsdale 3, Spring Arbor 0